3/29/19

INTRODUCTION
1. This study is based upon Jm 1:21-25, in which we read concerning
"The Implanted Word" (the KJV uses the word "Engrafted"):
21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of
naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is
able to save your souls. 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not
hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer
of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his
natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his
way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But
whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth
[therein], he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work,
this man shall be blessed in his deed. (James 1)
2. Several observations can be made about the Word of God from this
passage, and the first pertains to what the Word is able to do in our
lives...
I. THE POWER OF THE WORD OF GODA. NOTICE THE WORDS OF JAMES HIMSELF...
1. "which is able to save your souls" (1:21)
2. Stated very clearly, the Word of God has the power to SAVE OUR SOULS!
[To see how, let's consider some other scriptures...]
B. ITS POWER TO SAVE IS FOUND IN ITS ABILITY TO...
1. CREATE ANEW
a. I.e., to cause us to be born again - 1Pe 1:22-25; Jm 1:18
b. This is because of what the Word of God contains: God's
way of salvation through Jesus Christ!
2. SANCTIFY
a. The word "sanctify" means to "set apart for a holy purpose"
b. David sang of the Word's ability to sanctify God's people
- Ps 19:7-11
c. In His prayer, Jesus spoke of the sanctifying influence of
God's Word - Jn 17:15-17
d. Thus the Word of God can serve to set us apart for His purpose!
3. PRESERVE
a. The young were told to preserve their way by the Word of
God - Ps 119:9,11
b. The elders were admonished to keep the church pure by
the same Word - Ac 20:28-32
[When we take the time to consider the POWER of the Word of God, it
becomes evident that the Word is very important to the Christian!
But the value of "The Implanted Word" can only be realized when
certain conditions are met. We find those conditions mentioned in our text...]
II. BENEFITING FROM THE POWERFUL WORD OF GODA. THERE ARE THINGS WE MUST LAY ASIDE! (21a)
1. James mentions such things as "all filthiness and overflow of
wickedness" (NKJV) - cf. Paul's description of things to
lay aside - Col 3:5-9
2. For the Word of God to bear its fruit in our lives, the "weeds
of sin" must first be uprooted!
a. We cannot hope to benefit from our study of the Word if we
continue to dwell on that which is spiritually filthy and to
engage in wickedness
b. Could this be why many do not get much out of Bible study?
B. WE MUST HAVE A PROPER ATTITUDE! (21b)
1. James says to "receive with meekness" the Word of God
2. A humble and receptive attitude is essential to get the most
out of the Word of God
3. It helps to remain humble if we remember two things:
a. We are sinners too!
b. We can be easily deceived also!
4. We should study, not to learn facts, not to win debates, but to
learn God's truth to save ourselves and those around us!
5. Is this prayer of David our own? "Open thou mine eyes, that I
may behold wondrous things out of thy law." (Ps 119:18)C. THE WORD MUST BE "IMPLANTED" IN OUR HEARTS! (21b)
1. It is only the "implanted" Word which can truly save our souls
a. Therefore we must be sure to take the words out of the pages
and implant them into our hearts!
b. Otherwise we are no different from the Jews who gave lip
service to their Words written on stone
2. A distinguishing feature of the those under the NEW COVENANT
is that the Word of God is to be WRITTEN IN THEIR HEARTS - He 8:6-13
3. Where is the Word of God today?
a. Is it only in ink inscribed on paper?
b. Or we have we read it often enough, meditated upon it enough,
that it has become IMPLANTED in our hearts as well?
4. Is this possible without daily reading of the Bible?
D. IT MUST BE APPLIED IN OUR LIVES! (22-25)
1. We must be "doers of the Word and not hearers only"
2. Otherwise, we deceive ourselves (and usually ONLY ourselves)
a. God is not deceived
b. Nor is the devil
c. Most likely our children will see through us
d. And so will many others!
3. Notice that the true blessedness of the Word comes...
a. NOT by "looking into the perfect law of liberty" ALONE
b. BUT by "continuing in it," and being "a doer of the work"
4. Yes, it is not just the READING of the Word which provides JOY,
PEACE and HAPPINESS, but the actual application of the Word in
lives through faithful obedience!
CONCLUSION
1. Notice that James calls the Word of God the "perfect law of liberty"
- Jm 1:25
a. This is because in its power to:
* CREATE ANEW
* SANCTIFY
* PRESERVE
b. ...it provides TRUE FREEDOM: LIBERATION FROM THE GUILT AND
DOMINION OF SIN!
2. Of course, what gives the Word this power is the message it contains:
THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST (God's power unto salvation - Ro 1:16)
3. Undoubtedly you have heard it...but hearing it is not enough!
a. You must lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness - that
is, to REPENT - Ac 17:30-31
b. You must receive the message of the gospel with meekness - in other
words, to BELIEVE - Jn 3:16
c. You must also be a "doer of the Word" - for example, to OBEY HIS
COMMAND TO BE BAPTIZED
1) For Jesus is the author of eternal salvation to those who OBEY
Him - He 5:9
2) And in addition to the commands to believe and repent, He calls
us to be baptized! - Mk 16:16; Mt 28:19; Ac 2:38; 22:16
Receive with meekness these very words of Jesus and His apostles, for
that is how the Word of God is able to save your soul!

From “In Place of God” to “God’s Place”

Nearly one year ago we reported that many militant non-believers gathered in La Jolla, California for the first “Beyond Belief” symposium (see Lyons and Butt, 2007), which the scientific journal New Scientist called “an ‘atheist love fest’” (Reilly, 2007, 196[2629]:7). The conference was held to discuss science, religion, and God, and specifically whether science should “do away with religion” (Brooks, 2006, 192[2578]:9). New Scientist writer Michael Brooks summarized the overall attitude of the attendees in the following words: “science can take on religion and win” (p. 11, emp. added). The participants were ready to roll up their sleeves and “get on with it” (p. 11). They were ready to put science “In Place of God,” as Brooks titled his article.

Fast forward one year to “Beyond Belief II,” and it appears some of the participants approached the idea of a Supernatural Being more cautiously. Even the title of a recent New Scientist article, which reported on the symposium, changed from last year’s arrogant heading, “In Place of God,” to this year’s more sober title, “God’s Place in a Rational World” (see Reilly, 2007, 196[2629]:7, emp. added). Michael Reilly gave some insight into the meeting by recording what one attendee, Edward Slingerland of the University of British Columbia, openly acknowledged:

“Religion is not going away,” he announced. Even those of us who fancy ourselves rationalists and scientists, he said, rely on moral values—a set of distinctly unscientific beliefs.

Where, for instance, does our conviction that human rights are universal come from? “Humans’ rights to me are as mysterious as the holy trinity.... You can’t do a CT scan to show where humans’ rights are, you can’t cut someone open and show us their human rights.... It’s not an empirical thing, it’s just something we strongly believe. It’s a purely metaphysical entity” (p. 7).

Although some at the conference naïvely believe that “[g]iven time and persistence, science will conquer all of nature’s mysteries” (Reilly, 2007, p. 7, emp. added), it is encouraging to know that at least one person alluded to one of the greatest proofs for God’s existence—the moral argument.

The fact is, morality exists and makes sense only if there is a God, because only God could have created it. All naturalistic explanations for the existence of morality have been shown to be inadequate. What’s more, scientists admit that they still cannot logically explain the existence of morals. In truth, the only logical explanation must be supernatural (i.e., the God of the Bible). [NOTE: To read more on the moral argument for God’s existence, see Jackson, 1995.]

REFERENCES

Brooks, Michael (2006), “In Place of God,” New Scientist, 192[2578]:8-11, November 18.

Free thought: Not So Free After All

One of the most popular terms used by atheists and agnostics to describe themselves is the term “freethinker.” Accordingly, their self-styled brand of reasoning, known as “freethought,” is hitting the upper echelons of academia as the in vogue way to think. From the ideas contained in this compound word, its advocates are attempting to lead people to believe that freethinkers are free to think as they like. Supposedly, freethinkers can go where the evidence leads them, since they are not bound by traditional ideas on morality, deity, the inspiration of the Bible, and other “wayward” notions that have “hindered” freedom in the past.

One of the most outspoken defenders of freethought is a man named Dan Barker. Prior to his “deconversion” into freethought, he was a zealous denominational preacher and missionary. In his most famous written work describing his new-found atheism, Losing Faith in Faith: From Preacher to Atheist, he includes an entire chapter titled, What is a Freethinker? At the end of this chapter, Barker says, “Freethought allows you to do your own thinking…. Freethought is truly free” (1992, p. 136). Obviously, Mr. Barker wants everyone who comes in contact with freethought to believe that it is an avenue of thinking that allows each individual to go where his or her thoughts lead.

Upon further investigation, however, freethought is not so free after all. On the very first page of his chapter on freethought, he contends, “No one can be a freethinker who demands conformity to a bible, creed, or messiah.” So, according to Mr. Barker, since he and his group of freethinkers do not think they see enough evidence for the Bible’s inspiration, then all “freethinkers” must reject conformity to the Bible. What happened to the idea that freethought allows “you to do your own thinking.” Again, on the same page he wrote, “Freethinkers are naturalistic” (p. 133), meaning that freethinkers cannot believe in anything outside the realm of what can be measured scientifically using the senses. What if certain evidences compel a person to believe in a supernatural deity? According to freethought, a person is not free to follow that type of evidence. Once again, freethought proves to be much less “free” than we have been told.

Another telling statement from Barker’s pen comes on page 134, where he says, “Individuals are free to choose, within the limits of humanistic morality.” Freethought, then, allows a person to choose freely any set of ethical and moral standards, as long as those standards conform to the “humanistic morality” adopted by Barker and his fellow “freethinkers.” But what if those moral standards fall outside the realm of “humanistic morality?” Then a freethinker must choose some other standard—or cease to be a freethinker.

In one of his concluding paragraphs, Barker states: “A multiplicity of individuals thinking, free from the restraints of orthodoxy, allows ideas to be tested, discarded or adopted” (p. 135). Barker subtly omits the other restraints such as naturalism and humanism, from which freethinkers are not free. In essence, freethinkers, according to Dan Barker, are those people who think like him and his fellow freethinkers. If a person does not think like the humanistic, naturalistic Dan Barker, then that person must be an enslaved thinker, not a freethinker. In reality, “freethought” is a misnomer and is not free after all. In fact, it is one of the “least free” ways to think that is available in the marketplace of ideas. In actuality, the only thing that can ever make a person free is the truth (John 8:32). From the statements quoted above, it is evident that Dan Barker and his fellow freethinkers are not really interested in freedom but, rather, are interested in forming a group of “freethinkers” that toes the party line on such false concepts as naturalism and humanism.

Following the Toucan’s Nose to a Designer

The writers and editors of National Geographic are notoriously guilty of saturating their articles with evolution. That is why it is almost humorous to read articles in the periodical that seem to slip by the editors—articles that, if read in a straightforward manner, defy evolution. For instance, in the December, 2006 issue, the editors included a tiny, one-page article titled “Power Beak.” This article discusses the beak of the toucan. John Eliot, the author of the article, interviewed Marc André Meyers, “a materials scientist at the University of California, San Diego.” Meyers believes the unique design of the toucan beak could be used to produce strong, lightweight materials used in vehicles.

Meyers describes the toucan beak as a beautiful structure. He then goes into some engineering detail:

The surface is made of keratin, the same material in fingernails and hair. But the outer layer isn’t a solid structure. It’s actually many layers of tiny hexagonal plates, overlapping like shingles on a roof. The interior is different from the shell, made of bone. It consists of a light yet rigid foam made of little beams and membranes. And some areas of the beak are hollow (Eliot, 2006, p. 30).

On the same page, to the right of Meyers’ comments, the reader can see two pictures from a microscope—one of the hard foam inside the beak and the other of the “shingle” layers of keratin. To the left of the comments there is a toucan head and beak, in which the layers are shown in a cross-section-like diagram. The combined pictures look like they are straight out of an engineer’s portfolio.

What is Eliot’s assessment of the toucan’s beak? In a simple, yet oh-so-telling, sentence, Eliot said: “[T]he toucan’s beak is ingeniously designed to be both strong and light weight.” Look closely at the wording. He says the beak is “ingeniously designed.” The AmericanHeritageDictionary defines the word “ingenious” as: “Marked by inventive skill and imagination. 2. Having or arising from an inventive or cunningmind; clever” (2000, p. 900, emp. added). Notice that the word “ingenious” implies an inventive or cunning mind. What inventive or cunning mind engineered the beautiful design of the toucan beak? It could not have been the evolutionary process, since evolutionists themselves admit that the process has no ultimate goals and no creative mind powering the system. The only logical answer is the supernatural mind of God. If the editors of NationalGeographic would only follow the nose of the toucan, they would find the ingenious Designer—and they would stop writing false, evolutionary propaganda.

(Luke 12:1-9) “Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.2 There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.3 What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.

4 “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

8 “I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God.9 But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God”.

For many of us, when we were children we had what I call a healthy fear of our dads. As much as I loved my dad, and as much as I know he loved me, a small part of me feared him. Even though most people said that I was a good kid and somewhat well behaved, there were times as I was growing up when I needed what I’d like to call a behavior or attitude adjustment, and my dad, and even sometimes my mom help me with those adjustments.

Like when at a very young age I decided to help my dad and dissect his chain saw, piece by piece. Or when I decided to experiment with matches to see what could burn along side the road and what couldn’t and started a brush fire. Or when my parents found out that me and my neighbor were shoplifting candy and small toys from our local country store. My parents didn’t like it to much when my brother and I would not stop fooling around at bedtime after being told to be quiet go to sleep too many times. I remember on night my dad was on his way into our room to warm our bottom and I shoved some kind of clothing down my pants to pad my backside. Nor did they like it very much when I decided my brother needed an attitude adjustment and took it into my own hands to give him one.

For some reason I don’t remember too much about those acts of discipline (or beatings as we use to refer to them) but I know that they had a profound effect: #1, I did my best not to do whatever I did to get that belt or spanking in the first place. And #2, I learned not to tempt fate when it came to disobeying my parents and do something evil or mischievous.

I had a healthy fear because I knew what my dad would do. Back then I don’t ever remember having a ‘TIME OUT.’ And the only reason we were sent to our room was to get spanked in private which was something that usually terrified us. That wait seemed always worst that the beating itself.

By no means do I want you think that my parents were cruel or abusive, they weren’t. As a matter of fact my brother and I knew that our parents loved us and did not want us to grow up without teaching us the difference between right and wrong. Like I said, I don’t remember any of those beatings be much more than a couple of slaps on our butt. But that was all that was needed to make an impression.

And I personally don’t think there is anything wrong with having a little bit of respectful fear to prompt us to do the right things.

As a matter of fact in the book of Proverbs Solomon instructs loving parents to use more than words to discipline your child. (Proverbs 13:24; 19:18; 22:15; 23:14-15; and 29:15)

In Psychology Today, an article on fear says, “There are many things that motivate us. But the most powerful motivator of all is FEAR. Fear is a primal instinct that served us as cave dwellers and today. It keeps us alive, because if we survive a bad experience, we never forget how to avoid it in the future. Our most vivid memories are born in Fear. Adrenaline etches them into our brains..”

Proverbs 23:14-15 says, “Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you punish them with the rod, they will not die. 14 Punish them with the rod and save them from death.”

That’s what discipline is all about. It’s not about being vicious, cruel, or having revenge on our child for what they have done. Rather it’s all about caring so much for our child that we take some drastic steps to modify their behavior wanting to save them from far worst things.

That’s what discipline is all about. As a matter of fact we are told that God does the same with us even as His adult children. The author of Hebrews wrote, in 12:5-11. “And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as His children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in His holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

I don’t know about you but to some degree I fear our Father God. Yes, I am absolutely convince He loves me more than any human could, and yes I love Him, but there is still a part of me that fears Him in much the same way I feared my dad as a boy growing up. From scripture I’ve learned; like my dad and even more so, Father God is not someone to mess with.

And that fear of Father God has motivate me to do some things that I may not have done if I had not feared Him.

In out last lesson we read about King Sennacherib, the king of Assyria who wanted to attack and conquer Jerusalem. Before he attacked he sent a message to King Hezekiah and those in Jerusalem basically telling them to give up and surrender because in his opinion there was no way to get out of the situation, not even with God’s help. In 2 Chronicles 32 16 it says, “ Sennacherib’s officers spoke further against the Lord God and against his servant Hezekiah.17 The king also wrote letters ridiculing the Lord, the God of Israel, and saying this against Him: “Just as the gods of the peoples of the other lands did not rescue their people from my hand, so the god of Hezekiah will not rescue his people from my hand.”

And the following night we read that God sent the Angel of the Lord into the Assyrian camp and put to death a185,000 soldiers. Simply put, I don’t think you should mess with Father God. Over and over from the time of Noah on we read how Father God wiped out one evil nation or people after another.

In Hebrews God lets us know that He will discipline those of us who are His sons and daughters just as a parent disciplines us when we start going down the wrong path.

For me one of the scariest verses in all the Bible is seen in Luke 12:4-5; it says, 4 “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.”

This tells me that there isn’t anyone on this planet or beyond that I should fear more that God Himself. Not that He doesn’t love us, rather it is because He loves us Father God will not put up with a disobedient, unholy, evil, irreverent son or daughter. And in the end if we don’t turn from such behavior its going to be far worse than a rod to your back, He will not let you into heaven and you will depart to a place where Jesus said there will be torment with weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 13:42 and 25:30)

Words like that from Jesus scare the Hell out of me; and they have changed my behavior and way of life. You want motivation to do the right thing, to obey His word, to start loving and serving others as He would have you, to stop complaining all the time and start forgiving others. Or the motivation to give up bad or sinful habits and honor Him; then remember: “do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.”

“He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8).

God has let us know what is good.

Man has a general knowledge of good and evil. According to Romans 1:18-32, man has sufficient knowledge about God and righteousness to be held responsible for his actions. This applies to all men, including those who do not have God’s written word.

In Scripture it is assumed that we can recognize good and evil: “Depart from evil and do good” (Psalm 34:14). “Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good” (3 John 11). “He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil” (1 Peter 3:10-12).

Since God has shown us what is good, He holds us responsible: “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3).

In judgment we must give account for what we have done. “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14).

What does God require of us? “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8).

God requires that we do justly.

To do justly means to behave justly. Behaving justly includes treating people fairly in an evenhanded manner, without favoritism, prejudice or self-interest. We all want to be treated justly. So we ought to treat others justly as well. God requires that we do so.

“Thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Execute true justice, show mercy and compassion everyone to his brother’” (Zechariah 7:9). “For I, the LORD, love justice” (Isaiah 61:8). “To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice” (Proverbs 21:3).

“It is a joy for the just to do justice” (Proverbs 21:15). “Blessed are those who keep justice, and he who does righteousness at all times!” (Psalm 106:3). “So you, by the help ofyour God, return; observe mercy and justice, and wait on your God continually” (Hosea 12:6). “Let justice run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream” (Amos 5:24).

What does God require of us? “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8).

God requires that we love mercy.

Being merciful means to be kind and compassionate, which results in a forgiving attitude toward others. To love mercy means to be wholeheartedly committed to mercy. Even a selfish person, wants to receive mercy! But someone who loves mercy, is thankful for the mercy God extends to him and wants to pass that mercy on to others. God wants us to be merciful.

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy” (Matthew 5:7). “For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:13).

Our hope is based on the mercy of God. “The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy” (Psalm 147:11). “Behold, the eye of the LORD ison those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy” (Psalm 33:18). “Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us, just as we hope in You” (Psalm 33:22). “I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy” (Psalm 31:7).

“The wisdom that is from above is ... full of mercy” (James 3:17). “He who shows mercy” is to do so “with cheerfulness” (Romans 12:8).

What does God require of us? “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8).

God requires that we walk humbly with Him.

Our walk is our way of life. To walk with God means to walk in all His ways and to be in daily fellowship with Him.

“And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes which I command you today for your good?” (Deuteronomy 10:12, 13).

To walk in all His ways requires knowledge of His word and a willingness to do what God tells us to do and to go where God wants us to go. Many people want God to walk with them where they want to go! But to walk with God we must follow His lead and go where He goes!

“Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him” (Genesis 5:24). “By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death” (Hebrews 11:5). “Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God” (Genesis 6:9).

A mortal man who walks with God must humbly follow Him. A humble person does not exalt himself. He is meek and unpretentious because he adopts a lowly position. As a psychologist supposedly told one man: “You don’t have an inferiority complex. You really are inferior!” A humble person accepts that in certain ways he is inferior to others. And we certainly are inferior to God! “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ says the LORD. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts’” (Isaiah 55:8, 9). In our relationship with God, humility is essential!

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5, 6). As we walk humbly with God, we trust His guidance because He knows the way better than we do.

“Good and upright is the LORD; therefore He teaches sinners in the way. The humble He guides in justice, and the humble He teaches His way. All the paths of the LORD aremercy and truth, to such as keep His covenant and His testimonies” (Psalm 25:8-10). God’s covenant for us is the New Testament, containing the testimony of Christ and the conditions for salvation.

“Humble yourselves in the sight of the LORD, and He will lift you up” (James 4:10). “For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation” (Psalm 149:4). “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:5b, 6).

Jesus did what His Father required of Him.

“As the Father gave Me commandment, so I do” (John 14:31). Jesus is our example. He showed us how to be just, merciful and humble. It was prophesied that the Christ would “bring justice to victory” (Matthew 12:20, quoted from Isaiah 42:1-4). Often “He was moved with compassion” (see Matthew 9:36 for example). And He gives us this invitation: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28, 29).

What does God require of us?

“He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8). Amen.

Lev
13:2 "When a man shall have a rising in his body's skin, or a
scab, or a bright spot, and it becomes in the skin of his body the
plague of leprosy, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest, or
to one of his sons, the priests:

Lev
13:3 and the priest shall examine the plague in the skin of the
body: and if the hair in the plague has turned white, and the
appearance of the plague is deeper than the body's skin, it is the
plague of leprosy; and the priest shall examine him, and pronounce
him unclean.

Lev
13:4 If the bright spot is white in the skin of his body, and its
appearance isn't deeper than the skin, and its hair hasn't turned
white, then the priest shall isolate the infected person for seven
days.

Lev
13:5 The priest shall examine him on the seventh day, and, behold,
if in his eyes the plague is arrested, and the plague hasn't spread
in the skin, then the priest shall isolate him for seven more days.

Lev
13:6 The priest shall examine him again on the seventh day; and
behold, if the plague has faded, and the plague hasn't spread in the
skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean. It is a scab. He
shall wash his clothes, and be clean.

Lev
13:7 But if the scab spreads on the skin, after he has shown himself
to the priest for his cleansing, he shall show himself to the priest
again.

Lev
13:8 The priest shall examine him; and behold, if the scab has
spread on the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It
is leprosy.

Lev
13:9 "When the plague of leprosy is in a man, then he shall be
brought to the priest;

Lev
13:10 and the priest shall examine him. Behold, if there is a white
rising in the skin, and it has turned the hair white, and there is
raw flesh in the rising,

Lev
13:11 it is a chronic leprosy in the skin of his body, and the
priest shall pronounce him unclean. He shall not isolate him, for he
is unclean.

Lev
13:12 "If the leprosy breaks out all over the skin, and the
leprosy covers all the skin of the infected person from his head even
to his feet, as far as it appears to the priest;

Lev
13:13 then the priest shall examine him; and, behold, if the leprosy
has covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean of the
plague. It has all turned white: he is clean.

Lev
13:14 But whenever raw flesh appears in him, he shall be unclean.

Lev
13:15 The priest shall examine the raw flesh, and pronounce him
unclean: the raw flesh is unclean. It is leprosy.

Lev
13:16 Or if the raw flesh turns again, and is changed to white, then
he shall come to the priest;

Lev
13:17 and the priest shall examine him; and, behold, if the plague
has turned white, then the priest shall pronounce him clean of the
plague. He is clean.

Lev
13:18 "When the body has a boil on its skin, and it has healed,

Lev
13:19 and in the place of the boil there is a white rising, or a
bright spot, reddish-white, then it shall be shown to the priest;

Lev
13:20 and the priest shall examine it; and behold, if its appearance
is lower than the skin, and its hair has turned white, then the
priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is the plague of leprosy. It
has broken out in the boil.

Lev
13:21 But if the priest examines it, and behold, there are no white
hairs in it, and it isn't deeper than the skin, but is dim, then the
priest shall isolate him seven days.

Lev
13:22 If it spreads in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him
unclean. It is a plague.

Lev
13:23 But if the bright spot stays in its place, and hasn't spread,
it is the scar from the boil; and the priest shall pronounce him
clean.

Lev
13:24 "Or when the body has a burn from fire on its skin, and
the raw flesh of the burn becomes a bright spot, reddish-white, or
white,

Lev
13:25 then the priest shall examine it; and behold, if the hair in
the bright spot has turned white, and its appearance is deeper than
the skin; it is leprosy. It has broken out in the burning, and the
priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is the plague of leprosy.

Lev
13:26 But if the priest examines it, and behold, there is no white
hair in the bright spot, and it isn't lower than the skin, but is
faded; then the priest shall isolate him seven days.

Lev
13:27 The priest shall examine him on the seventh day. If it has
spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It
is the plague of leprosy.

Lev
13:28 If the bright spot stays in its place, and hasn't spread in
the skin, but is faded, it is the swelling from the burn, and the
priest shall pronounce him clean; for it is the scar from the burn.

Lev
13:29 "When a man or woman has a plague on the head or on the
beard,

Lev
13:30 then the priest shall examine the plague; and behold, if its
appearance is deeper than the skin, and the hair in it is yellow and
thin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is an itch, it
is leprosy of the head or of the beard.

Lev
13:31 If the priest examines the plague of itching, and behold, its
appearance isn't deeper than the skin, and there is no black hair in
it, then the priest shall isolate him the person infected with
itching seven days.

Lev
13:32 On the seventh day the priest shall examine the plague; and
behold, if the itch hasn't spread, and there is no yellow hair in it,
and the appearance of the itch isn't deeper than the skin,

Lev
13:33 then he shall be shaved, but he shall not shave the itch; and
the priest shall shut him up who has the itch seven more days.

Lev
13:34 On the seventh day, the priest shall examine the itch; and
behold, if the itch hasn't spread in the skin, and its appearance
isn't deeper than the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him
clean. He shall wash his clothes, and be clean.

Lev
13:35 But if the itch spreads in the skin after his cleansing,

Lev
13:36 then the priest shall examine him; and behold, if the itch has
spread in the skin, the priest shall not look for the yellow hair; he
is unclean.

Lev
13:37 But if in his eyes the itch is arrested, and black hair has
grown in it; the itch is healed, he is clean. The priest shall
pronounce him clean.

Lev
13:38 "When a man or a woman has bright spots in the skin of
the body, even white bright spots;

Lev
13:39 then the priest shall examine them; and behold, if the bright
spots on the skin of their body are a dull white, it is a harmless
rash, it has broken out in the skin; he is clean.

Lev
13:40 "If a man's hair has fallen from his head, he is bald. He
is clean.

Lev
13:41 If his hair has fallen off from the front part of his head, he
is forehead bald. He is clean.

Lev
13:42 But if there is in the bald head, or the bald forehead, a
reddish-white plague; it is leprosy breaking out in his bald head, or
his bald forehead.

Lev
13:43 Then the priest shall examine him; and, behold, if the rising
of the plague is reddish-white in his bald head, or in his bald
forehead, like the appearance of leprosy in the skin of the flesh,

Lev
13:44 he is a leprous man. He is unclean. The priest shall surely
pronounce him unclean. His plague is on his head.

Lev
13:45 "The leper in whom the plague is shall wear torn clothes,
and the hair of his head shall hang loose. He shall cover his upper
lip, and shall cry, 'Unclean! Unclean!'

Lev
13:46 All the days in which the plague is in him he shall be
unclean. He is unclean. He shall dwell alone. Outside of the camp
shall be his dwelling.

Lev
13:47 "The garment also that the plague of leprosy is in,
whether it is a woolen garment, or a linen garment;

Lev
13:48 whether it is in warp, or woof; of linen, or of wool; whether
in a skin, or in anything made of skin;

Lev
13:49 if the plague is greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the
skin, or in the warp, or in the woof, or in anything made of skin; it
is the plague of leprosy, and shall be shown to the priest.

Lev
13:51 He shall examine the plague on the seventh day. If the plague
has spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in
the skin, whatever use the skin is used for, the plague is a
destructive mildew. It is unclean.

Lev
13:52 He shall burn the garment, whether the warp or the woof, in
wool or in linen, or anything of skin, in which the plague is: for it
is a destructive mildew. It shall be burned in the fire.

Lev
13:53 "If the priest examines it, and behold, the plague hasn't
spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in
anything of skin;

Lev
13:54 then the priest shall command that they wash the thing in
which the plague is, and he shall isolate it seven more days.

Lev
13:55 Then the priest shall examine it, after the plague is washed;
and behold, if the plague hasn't changed its color, and the plague
hasn't spread, it is unclean; you shall burn it in the fire. It is a
mildewed spot, whether the bareness is inside or outside.

Lev
13:56 If the priest looks, and behold, the plague has faded after it
is washed, then he shall tear it out of the garment, or out of the
skin, or out of the warp, or out of the woof:

Lev
13:57 and if it appears again in the garment, either in the warp, or
in the woof, or in anything of skin, it is spreading. You shall burn
with fire that in which the plague is.

Lev
13:58 The garment, either the warp, or the woof, or whatever thing
of skin it is, which you shall wash, if the plague has departed from
them, then it shall be washed the second time, and it will be clean."

Lev
13:59 This is the law of the plague of mildew in a garment of wool
or linen, either in the warp, or the woof, or in anything of skin, to
pronounce it clean, or to pronounce it unclean.

Lev
14:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Lev
14:2 "This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his
cleansing. He shall be brought to the priest,

Lev
14:3 and the priest shall go forth out of the camp. The priest shall
examine him, and behold, if the plague of leprosy is healed in the
leper,

Lev
14:4 then the priest shall command them to take for him who is to be
cleansed two living clean birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and
hyssop.

Lev
14:5 The priest shall command them to kill one of the birds in an
earthen vessel over running water.

Lev
14:6 As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood,
and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living
bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water.

Lev
14:7 He shall sprinkle on him who is to be cleansed from the leprosy
seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living
bird go into the open field.

Lev
14:8 "He who is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and
shave off all his hair, and bathe himself in water; and he shall be
clean. After that he shall come into the camp, but shall dwell
outside his tent seven days.

Lev
14:9 It shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his
hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair
he shall shave off. He shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his
body in water, then he shall be clean.

Lev
14:10 "On the eighth day he shall take two male lambs without
blemish, and one ewe lamb a year old without blemish, and three
tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a meal offering, mingled with
oil, and one log of oil.

Lev
14:11 The priest who cleanses him shall set the man who is to be
cleansed, and those things, before Yahweh, at the door of the Tent of
Meeting.

Lev
14:12 "The priest shall take one of the male lambs, and offer
him for a trespass offering, with the log of oil, and wave them for a
wave offering before Yahweh.

Lev
14:13 He shall kill the male lamb in the place where they kill the
sin offering and the burnt offering, in the place of the sanctuary;
for as the sin offering is the priest's, so is the trespass offering.
It is most holy.

Lev
14:14 The priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass
offering, and the priest shall put it on the tip of the right ear of
him who is to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on
the big toe of his right foot.

Lev
14:15 The priest shall take some of the log of oil, and pour it into
the palm of his own left hand.

Lev
14:16 The priest shall dip his right finger in the oil that is in
his left hand, and shall sprinkle some of the oil with his finger
seven times before Yahweh.

Lev
14:17 The priest shall put some of the rest of the oil that is in
his hand on the tip of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed,
and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right
foot, upon the blood of the trespass offering.

Lev
14:18 The rest of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall put
on the head of him who is to be cleansed, and the priest shall make
atonement for him before Yahweh.

Lev
14:19 "The priest shall offer the sin offering, and make
atonement for him who is to be cleansed because of his uncleanness:
and afterward he shall kill the burnt offering;

Lev
14:20 and the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the meal
offering on the altar. The priest shall make atonement for him, and
he shall be clean.

Lev
14:21 "If he is poor, and can't afford so much, then he shall
take one male lamb for a trespass offering to be waved, to make
atonement for him, and one tenth of an ephah of fine flour mingled
with oil for a meal offering, and a log of oil;

Lev
14:22 and two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, such as he is able
to afford; and the one shall be a sin offering, and the other a burnt
offering.

Lev
14:23 "On the eighth day he shall bring them for his cleansing
to the priest, to the door of the Tent of Meeting, before Yahweh.

Lev
14:24 The priest shall take the lamb of the trespass offering, and
the log of oil, and the priest shall wave them for a wave offering
before Yahweh.

Lev
14:25 He shall kill the lamb of the trespass offering. The priest
shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering and put it on
the tip of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, and on the
thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot.

Lev
14:26 The priest shall pour some of the oil into the palm of his own
left hand;

Lev
14:27 and the priest shall sprinkle with his right finger some of
the oil that is in his left hand seven times before Yahweh.

Lev
14:28 Then the priest shall put some of the oil that is in his hand
on the tip of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, and on the
thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot, on the
place of the blood of the trespass offering.

Lev
14:29 The rest of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall put
on the head of him who is to be cleansed, to make atonement for him
before Yahweh.

Lev
14:30 He shall offer one of the turtledoves, or of the young
pigeons, such as he is able to afford,

Lev
14:31 even such as he is able to afford, the one for a sin offering,
and the other for a burnt offering, with the meal offering. The
priest shall make atonement for him who is to be cleansed before
Yahweh."

Lev
14:32 This is the law for him in whom is the plague of leprosy, who
is not able to afford the sacrifice for his cleansing.

Lev
14:33 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,

Lev
14:34 "When you have come into the land of Canaan, which I give
to you for a possession, and I put a spreading mildew in a house in
the land of your possession,

Lev
14:35 then he who owns the house shall come and tell the priest,
saying, 'There seems to me to be some sort of plague in the house.'

Lev
14:36 The priest shall command that they empty the house, before the
priest goes in to examine the plague, that all that is in the house
not be made unclean: and afterward the priest shall go in to inspect
the house.

Lev
14:37 He shall examine the plague; and behold, if the plague is in
the walls of the house with hollow streaks, greenish or reddish, and
it appears to be deeper than the wall;

Lev
14:38 then the priest shall go out of the house to the door of the
house, and shut up the house seven days.

Lev
14:39 The priest shall come again on the seventh day, and look. If
the plague has spread in the walls of the house,

Lev
14:40 then the priest shall command that they take out the stones in
which is the plague, and cast them into an unclean place outside of
the city:

Lev
14:41 and he shall cause the inside of the house to be scraped all
over, and they shall pour out the mortar, that they scraped off,
outside of the city into an unclean place.

Lev
14:42 They shall take other stones, and put them in the place of
those stones; and he shall take other mortar, and shall plaster the
house.

Lev
14:43 "If the plague comes again, and breaks out in the house,
after he has taken out the stones, and after he has scraped the
house, and after it was plastered;

Lev
14:44 then the priest shall come in and look; and behold, if the
plague has spread in the house, it is a destructive mildew in the
house. It is unclean.

Lev
14:45 He shall break down the house, its stones, and its timber, and
all the house's mortar. He shall carry them out of the city into an
unclean place.

Lev
14:46 "Moreover he who goes into the house while it is shut up
shall be unclean until the evening.

Lev
14:47 He who lies down in the house shall wash his clothes; and he
who eats in the house shall wash his clothes.

Lev
14:48 "If the priest shall come in, and examine it, and behold,
the plague hasn't spread in the house, after the house was plastered,
then the priest shall pronounce the house clean, because the plague
is healed.

Lev
14:49 To cleanse the house he shall take two birds, and cedar wood,
and scarlet, and hyssop.

Lev
14:50 He shall kill one of the birds in an earthen vessel over
running water.

Lev
14:51 He shall take the cedar wood, and the hyssop, and the scarlet,
and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird, and
in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times.

Lev
14:52 He shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, and
with the running water, with the living bird, with the cedar wood,
with the hyssop, and with the scarlet;

Lev
14:53 but he shall let the living bird go out of the city into the
open field. So shall he make atonement for the house; and it shall be
clean."

Lev
14:54 This is the law for any plague of leprosy, and for an itch,

Lev
14:55 and for the destructive mildew of a garment, and for a house,

Lev
14:56 and for a rising, and for a scab, and for a bright spot;

Lev
14:57 to teach when it is unclean, and when it is clean. This is
the law of leprosy.

Mar.
30

Leviticus
15, 16

Lev
15:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,

Lev
15:2 "Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, 'When any
man has a discharge from his body, because of his discharge he is
unclean.

Lev
15:3 This shall be his uncleanness in his discharge: whether his
body runs with his discharge, or his body has stopped from his
discharge, it is his uncleanness.

Lev
15:4 " 'Every bed whereon he who has the discharge lies shall
be unclean; and everything he sits on shall be unclean.

Lev
15:5 Whoever touches his bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe
himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.

Lev
15:6 He who sits on anything whereon the man who has the discharge
sat shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be
unclean until the evening.

Lev
15:7 " 'He who touches the body of him who has the discharge
shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean
until the evening.

Lev
15:8 " 'If he who has the discharge spits on him who is clean,
then he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be
unclean until the evening.

Lev
15:9 " 'Whatever saddle he who has the discharge rides on shall
be unclean.

Lev
15:10 Whoever touches anything that was under him shall be unclean
until the evening. He who carries those things shall wash his
clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the
evening.

Lev
15:11 " 'Whoever he who has the discharge touches, without
having rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and
bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.

Lev
15:12 " 'The earthen vessel, which he who has the discharge
touches, shall be broken; and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in
water.

Lev
15:13 " 'When he who has a discharge is cleansed of his
discharge, then he shall count to himself seven days for his
cleansing, and wash his clothes; and he shall bathe his flesh in
running water, and shall be clean.

Lev
15:14 " 'On the eighth day he shall take two turtledoves, or
two young pigeons, and come before Yahweh to the door of the Tent of
Meeting, and give them to the priest:

Lev
15:15 and the priest shall offer them, the one for a sin offering,
and the other for a burnt offering. The priest shall make atonement
for him before Yahweh for his discharge.

Lev
15:16 " 'If any man has an emission of semen, then he shall
bathe all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the evening.

Lev
15:17 Every garment, and every skin, whereon the semen is, shall be
washed with water, and be unclean until the evening.

Lev
15:18 If a man lies with a woman and there is an emission of semen,
they shall both bathe themselves in water, and be unclean until the
evening.

Lev
15:19 " 'If a woman has a discharge, and her discharge in her
flesh is blood, she shall be in her impurity seven days: and whoever
touches her shall be unclean until the evening.

Lev
15:20 " 'Everything that she lies on in her impurity shall be
unclean. Everything also that she sits on shall be unclean.

Lev
15:21 Whoever touches her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe
himself in water, and be unclean until the evening.

Lev
15:22 Whoever touches anything that she sits on shall wash his
clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the
evening.

Lev
15:23 If it is on the bed, or on anything whereon she sits, when he
touches it, he shall be unclean until the evening.

Lev
15:24 " 'If any man lies with her, and her monthly flow is on
him, he shall be unclean seven days; and every bed whereon he lies
shall be unclean.

Lev
15:25 " 'If a woman has a discharge of her blood many days not
in the time of her period, or if she has a discharge beyond the time
of her period; all the days of the discharge of her uncleanness shall
be as in the days of her period: she is unclean.

Lev
15:26 Every bed whereon she lies all the days of her discharge shall
be to her as the bed of her period: and everything whereon she sits
shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her period.

Lev
15:27 Whoever touches these things shall be unclean, and shall wash
his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the
evening.

Lev
15:28 " 'But if she is cleansed of her discharge, then she
shall count to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean.

Lev
15:29 On the eighth day she shall take two turtledoves, or two young
pigeons, and bring them to the priest, to the door of the Tent of
Meeting.

Lev
15:30 The priest shall offer the one for a sin offering, and the
other for a burnt offering; and the priest shall make atonement for
her before Yahweh for the uncleanness of her discharge.

Lev
15:31 " 'Thus you shall separate the children of Israel from
their uncleanness, so they will not die in their uncleanness, when
they defile my tabernacle that is in their midst.' "

Lev
15:32 This is the law of him who has a discharge, and of him who has
an emission of semen, so that he is unclean thereby;

Lev
15:33 and of her who has her period, and of a man or woman who has a
discharge, and of him who lies with her who is unclean.

Lev
16:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, after the death of the two sons of
Aaron, when they drew near before Yahweh, and died;

Lev
16:2 and Yahweh said to Moses, "Tell Aaron your brother, not to
come at all times into the Most Holy Place within the veil, before
the mercy seat which is on the ark; lest he die: for I will appear in
the cloud on the mercy seat.

Lev
16:3 "Herewith shall Aaron come into the sanctuary: with a
young bull for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering.

Lev
16:4 He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the
linen breeches on his body, and shall put on the linen sash, and he
shall be dressed with the linen turban. They are the holy garments.
He shall bathe his body in water, and put them on.

Lev
16:5 He shall take from the congregation of the children of Israel
two male goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering.

Lev
16:6 "Aaron shall offer the bull of the sin offering, which is
for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house.

Lev
16:7 He shall take the two goats, and set them before Yahweh at the
door of the Tent of Meeting.

Lev
16:8 Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats; one lot for Yahweh,
and the other lot for the scapegoat.

Lev
16:9 Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for Yahweh,
and offer him for a sin offering.

Lev
16:10 But the goat, on which the lot fell for the scapegoat, shall
be presented alive before Yahweh, to make atonement for him, to send
him away for the scapegoat into the wilderness.

Lev
16:11 "Aaron shall present the bull of the sin offering, which
is for himself, and shall make atonement for himself and for his
house, and shall kill the bull of the sin offering which is for
himself.

Lev
16:12 He shall take a censer full of coals of fire from off the
altar before Yahweh, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small,
and bring it within the veil:

Lev
16:13 and he shall put the incense on the fire before Yahweh, that
the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is on the
testimony, so that he will not die.

Lev
16:14 He shall take some of the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it
with his finger on the mercy seat on the east; and before the mercy
seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times.

Lev
16:15 "Then he shall kill the goat of the sin offering, that is
for the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with his
blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the
mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:

Lev
16:16 and he shall make atonement for the Holy Place, because of the
uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their
transgressions, even all their sins; and so he shall do for the Tent
of Meeting, that dwells with them in the midst of their uncleanness.

Lev
16:17 There shall be no one in the Tent of Meeting when he enters to
make atonement in the Holy Place, until he comes out, and has made
atonement for himself and for his household, and for all the assembly
of Israel.

Lev
16:18 "He shall go out to the altar that is before Yahweh and
make atonement for it, and shall take some of the bull's blood, and
some of the goat's blood, and put it around on the horns of the
altar.

Lev
16:19 He shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger
seven times, and cleanse it, and make it holy from the uncleanness of
the children of Israel.

Lev
16:20 "When he has made an end of atoning for the Holy Place,
the Tent of Meeting, and the altar, he shall present the live goat.

Lev
16:21 Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat,
and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel,
and all their transgressions, even all their sins; and he shall put
them on the head of the goat, and shall send him away into the
wilderness by the hand of a man who is in readiness.

Lev
16:22 The goat shall carry all their iniquities on himself to a
solitary land, and he shall let the goat go in the wilderness.

Lev
16:23 "Aaron shall come into the Tent of Meeting, and shall
take off the linen garments, which he put on when he went into the
Holy Place, and shall leave them there.

Lev
16:24 Then he shall bathe himself in water in a holy place, and put
on his garments, and come out and offer his burnt offering and the
burnt offering of the people, and make atonement for himself and for
the people.

Lev
16:25 The fat of the sin offering he shall burn on the altar.

Lev
16:26 "He who lets the goat go for the scapegoat shall wash his
clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come
into the camp.

Lev
16:27 The bull for the sin offering, and the goat for the sin
offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the Holy
Place, shall be carried forth outside the camp; and they shall burn
their skins, their flesh, and their dung with fire.

Lev
16:28 He who burns them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh
in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp.

Lev
16:29 "It shall be a statute to you forever: in the seventh
month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls,
and shall do no manner of work, the native-born, or the stranger who
lives as a foreigner among you:

Lev
16:30 for on this day shall atonement be made for you, to cleanse
you; from all your sins you shall be clean before Yahweh.

Lev
16:31 It is a Sabbath of solemn rest to you, and you shall afflict
your souls; it is a statute forever.

Lev
16:32 The priest, who is anointed and who is consecrated to be
priest in his father's place, shall make the atonement, and shall put
on the linen garments, even the holy garments.

Lev
16:33 Then he shall make atonement for the Holy Sanctuary; and he
shall make atonement for the Tent of Meeting and for the altar; and
he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the
assembly.

Lev
16:34 "This shall be an everlasting statute for you, to make
atonement for the children of Israel once in the year because of all
their sins." It was done as Yahweh commanded Moses.

Mar.
31

Leviticus
17, 18

Lev
17:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Lev
17:2 "Speak to Aaron, and to his sons, and to all the children
of Israel, and say to them: 'This is the thing which Yahweh has
commanded,

Lev
17:3 Whatever man there is of the house of Israel, who kills a bull,
or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or who kills it outside the camp,

Lev
17:4 and hasn't brought it to the door of the Tent of Meeting, to
offer it as an offering to Yahweh before the tabernacle of Yahweh:
blood shall be imputed to that man. He has shed blood; and that man
shall be cut off from among his people.

Lev
17:5 This is to the end that the children of Israel may bring their
sacrifices, which they sacrifice in the open field, that they may
bring them to Yahweh, to the door of the Tent of Meeting, to the
priest, and sacrifice them for sacrifices of peace offerings to
Yahweh.

Lev
17:6 The priest shall sprinkle the blood on the altar of Yahweh at
the door of the Tent of Meeting, and burn the fat for a pleasant
aroma to Yahweh.

Lev
17:7 They shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices to the goat
idols, after which they play the prostitute. This shall be a statute
forever to them throughout their generations.'

Lev
17:8 "You shall say to them, 'Any man there is of the house of
Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners among them, who
offers a burnt offering or sacrifice,

Lev
17:9 and doesn't bring it to the door of the Tent of Meeting, to
sacrifice it to Yahweh; that man shall be cut off from his people.

Lev
17:10 " 'Any man of the house of Israel, or of the strangers
who live as foreigners among them, who eats any kind of blood, I will
set my face against that soul who eats blood, and will cut him off
from among his people.

Lev
17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it
to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls: for it is the
blood that makes atonement by reason of the life.

Lev
17:12 Therefore I have said to the children of Israel, "No
person among you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger who
lives as a foreigner among you eat blood."

Lev
17:13 " 'Whatever man there is of the children of Israel, or of
the strangers who live as foreigners among them, who takes in hunting
any animal or bird that may be eaten; he shall pour out its blood,
and cover it with dust.

Lev
17:14 For as to the life of all flesh, its blood is with its life:
therefore I said to the children of Israel, "You shall not eat
the blood of any kind of flesh; for the life of all flesh is its
blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off."

Lev
17:15 " 'Every person that eats what dies of itself, or that
which is torn by animals, whether he is native-born or a foreigner,
he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean
until the evening: then he shall be clean.

Lev
17:16 But if he doesn't wash them, or bathe his flesh, then he shall
bear his iniquity.' "

Lev
18:1 Yahweh said to Moses,

Lev
18:2 "Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, 'I am
Yahweh your God.

Lev
18:3 You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you
lived: and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I
am bringing you; neither shall you walk in their statutes.

Lev
18:4 You shall do my ordinances, and you shall keep my statutes, and
walk in them: I am Yahweh your God.

Lev
18:5 You shall therefore keep my statutes and my ordinances; which
if a man does, he shall live in them: I am Yahweh.

Lev
18:6 " 'None of you shall approach anyone who are his close
relatives, to uncover their nakedness: I am Yahweh.

Lev
18:7 " 'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, nor
the nakedness of your mother: she is your mother. You shall not
uncover her nakedness.

Lev
18:17 " 'You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her
daughter. You shall not take her son's daughter, or her daughter's
daughter, to uncover her nakedness; they are near kinswomen: it is
wickedness.

Lev
18:18 " 'You shall not take a wife to her sister, to be a
rival, to uncover her nakedness, while her sister is yet alive.

Lev
18:19 " 'You shall not approach a woman to uncover her
nakedness, as long as she is impure by her uncleanness.

Lev
18:21 " 'You shall not give any of your children to sacrifice
to Molech; neither shall you profane the name of your God: I am
Yahweh.

Lev
18:22 " 'You shall not lie with a man, as with a woman. That is
detestable.

Lev
18:23 " 'You shall not lie with any animal to defile yourself
with it; neither shall any woman give herself to an animal, to lie
down with it: it is a perversion.

Lev
18:24 " 'Don't defile yourselves in any of these things: for in
all these the nations which I am casting out before you were defiled.

Lev
18:25 The land was defiled: therefore I punished its iniquity, and
the land vomited out her inhabitants.

Lev
18:26 You therefore shall keep my statutes and my ordinances, and
shall not do any of these abominations; neither the native-born, nor
the stranger who lives as a foreigner among you;

Lev
18:27 (for all these abominations have the men of the land done,
that were before you, and the land became defiled);

Lev
18:28 that the land not vomit you out also, when you defile it, as
it vomited out the nation that was before you.

Lev
18:29 " 'For whoever shall do any of these abominations, even
the souls that do them shall be cut off from among their people.

Lev
18:30 Therefore you shall keep my requirements, that you do not
practice any of these abominable customs, which were practiced before
you, and that you do not defile yourselves with them: I am Yahweh
your God.' "

Mar.
29, 30

Luke 1

Luk 1:1
Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning
those matters which have been fulfilled among us,

Luk 1:2
even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants
of the word delivered them to us,

Luk 1:3
it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things
accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent
Theophilus;

Luk 1:4
that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you
were instructed.

Luk 1:5
There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest
named Zacharias, of the priestly division of Abijah. He had a wife of
the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

Luk 1:6
They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the
commandments and ordinances of the Lord.

Luk 1:7
But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both
were well advanced in years.

Luk 1:8
Now it happened, while he executed the priest's office before God in
the order of his division,

Luk 1:9
according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to enter
into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

Luk
1:10 The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the
hour of incense.

Luk
1:11 An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right
side of the altar of incense.

Luk
1:12 Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.

Luk
1:13 But the angel said to him, "Don't be afraid, Zacharias,
because your request has been heard, and your wife, Elizabeth, will
bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.

Luk
1:14 You will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at his
birth.

Luk
1:15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will
drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy
Spirit, even from his mother's womb.

Luk
1:16 He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord, their
God.

Luk
1:17 He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to
turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient
to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the
Lord."

Luk
1:18 Zacharias said to the angel, "How can I be sure of this?
For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years."

Luk
1:19 The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the
presence of God. I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this
good news.

Luk
1:20 Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak, until the day
that these things will happen, because you didn't believe my words,
which will be fulfilled in their proper time."

Luk
1:21 The people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marveled that
he delayed in the temple.

Luk
1:22 When he came out, he could not speak to them, and they
perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued
making signs to them, and remained mute.

Luk
1:23 It happened, when the days of his service were fulfilled, he
departed to his house.

Luk
1:24 After these days Elizabeth, his wife, conceived, and she hid
herself five months, saying,

Luk
1:25 "Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he
looked at me, to take away my reproach among men."

Luk
1:26 Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to
a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

Luk
1:27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was
Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary.

Luk
1:28 Having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, you
highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among
women!"

Luk
1:29 But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying,
and considered what kind of salutation this might be.

Luk
1:30 The angel said to her, "Don't be afraid, Mary, for you
have found favor with God.

Luk
1:31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son,
and will call his name 'Jesus.'

Luk
1:32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High.
The Lord God will give him the throne of his father, David,

Luk
1:33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will
be no end to his Kingdom."

Luk
1:34 Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, seeing I am a
virgin?"

Luk
1:35 The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come on you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also
the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God.

Luk
1:36 Behold, Elizabeth, your relative, also has conceived a son in
her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called
barren.

Luk
1:37 For everything spoken by God is possible."

Luk
1:38 Mary said, "Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it to me
according to your word." The angel departed from her.

Luk
1:39 Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with
haste, into a city of Judah,

Luk
1:40 and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.

Luk
1:41 It happened, when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, that the
baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy
Spirit.

Luk
1:42 She called out with a loud voice, and said, "Blessed are
you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

Luk
1:43 Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to
me?

Luk
1:44 For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears,
the baby leaped in my womb for joy!

Luk
1:45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of
the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!"

Luk
1:46 Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord.

Luk
1:47 My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,

Luk
1:48 for he has looked at the humble state of his handmaid. For
behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.

Luk
1:49 For he who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy is his
name.

Luk
1:50 His mercy is for generations of generations on those who fear
him.

Luk
1:51 He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud
in the imagination of their hearts.

Luk
1:52 He has put down princes from their thrones. And has exalted the
lowly.

Luk
1:53 He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich
away empty.

Luk
1:54 He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might
remember mercy,

Luk
1:55 As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his seed forever."

Luk
1:56 Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to
her house.

Luk
1:57 Now the time that Elizabeth should give birth was fulfilled,
and she brought forth a son.

Luk
1:58 Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had
magnified his mercy towards her, and they rejoiced with her.

Luk
1:59 It happened on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the
child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of
the father.

Luk
1:60 His mother answered, "Not so; but he will be called John."

Luk
1:61 They said to her, "There is no one among your relatives
who is called by this name."

Luk
1:62 They made signs to his father, what he would have him called.

Luk
1:63 He asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, "His name is
John." They all marveled.

Luk
1:64 His mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue freed, and he
spoke, blessing God.

Luk
1:65 Fear came on all who lived around them, and all these sayings
were talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea.

Luk
1:66 All who heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, "What
then will this child be?" The hand of the Lord was with him.

Luk
1:67 His father, Zacharias, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and
prophesied, saying,

Luk
1:68 "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has
visited and worked redemption for his people;

Luk
1:69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of
his servant David

Luk
1:70 (as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been
from of old),

Luk
1:71 salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate
us;

Luk
1:72 to show mercy towards our fathers, to remember his holy
covenant,

Luk
1:73 the oath which he spoke to Abraham, our father,

Luk
1:74 to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our
enemies, should serve him without fear,

Luk
1:75 In holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our
life.

Luk
1:76 And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for
you will go before the face of the Lord to make ready his ways,

Luk
1:77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission
of their sins,

Luk
1:78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dawn from
on high will visit us,

Luk
1:79 to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death;
to guide our feet into the way of peace."

Luk
1:80 The child was growing, and becoming strong in spirit, and was
in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

Mar. 31

Luke 2

Luk 2:1
Now it happened in those days, that a decree went out from Caesar
Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.

Luk 2:2
This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of
Syria.

Luk 2:3
All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city.

Luk 2:4
Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into
Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he
was of the house and family of David;

Luk 2:5
to enroll himself with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him as
wife, being pregnant.

Luk 2:6
It happened, while they were there, that the day had come that she
should give birth.

Luk 2:7
She brought forth her firstborn son, and she wrapped him in bands of
cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room
for them in the inn.

Luk 2:8
There were shepherds in the same country staying in the field, and
keeping watch by night over their flock.

Luk 2:9
Behold, an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the
Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

Luk
2:10 The angel said to them, "Don't be afraid, for behold, I
bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people.

Luk
2:11 For there is born to you, this day, in the city of David, a
Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Luk
2:12 This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips
of cloth, lying in a feeding trough."

Luk
2:13 Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly
army praising God, and saying,

Luk
2:14 "Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will
toward men."

Luk
2:15 It happened, when the angels went away from them into the sky,
that the shepherds said one to another, "Let's go to Bethlehem,
now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made
known to us."

Luk
2:16 They came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the
baby was lying in the feeding trough.

Luk
2:17 When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was
spoken to them about this child.

Luk
2:18 All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to
them by the shepherds.

Luk
2:19 But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.

Luk
2:20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the
things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told them.

Luk
2:21 When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the
child, his name was called Jesus, which was given by the angel before
he was conceived in the womb.

Luk
2:22 When the days of their purification according to the law of
Moses were fulfilled, they brought him up to Jerusalem, to present
him to the Lord

Luk
2:23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who
opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord"),

Luk
2:24 and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the
law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."

Luk
2:25 Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.
This man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of
Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.

Luk
2:26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should
not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

Luk
2:27 He came in the Spirit into the temple. When the parents brought
in the child, Jesus, that they might do concerning him according to
the custom of the law,

Luk
2:28 then he received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said,

Luk
2:29 "Now you are releasing your servant, Master, according to
your word, in peace;

Luk
2:30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,

Luk
2:31 which you have prepared before the face of all peoples;

Luk
2:32 a light for revelation to the nations, and the glory of your
people Israel."

Luk
2:33 Joseph and his mother were marveling at the things which were
spoken concerning him,

Luk
2:34 and Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, "Behold,
this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel,
and for a sign which is spoken against.

Luk
2:35 Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul, that the
thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

Luk
2:36 There was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of
the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a
husband seven years from her virginity,

Luk
2:37 and she had been a widow for about eighty-four years), who
didn't depart from the temple, worshipping with fastings and
petitions night and day.

Luk
2:38 Coming up at that very hour, she gave thanks to the Lord, and
spoke of him to all those who were looking for redemption in
Jerusalem.

Luk
2:39 When they had accomplished all things that were according to
the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city,
Nazareth.

Luk
2:40 The child was growing, and was becoming strong in spirit, being
filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

Luk
2:41 His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the
Passover.

Luk
2:42 When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem
according to the custom of the feast,

Luk
2:43 and when they had fulfilled the days, as they were returning,
the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. Joseph and his mother
didn't know it,

Luk
2:44 but supposing him to be in the company, they went a day's
journey, and they looked for him among their relatives and
acquaintances.

Luk
2:45 When they didn't find him, they returned to Jerusalem, looking
for him.

Luk
2:46 It happened after three days they found him in the temple,
sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them, and
asking them questions.

Luk
2:47 All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his
answers.

Luk
2:48 When they saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to
him, "Son, why have you treated us this way? Behold, your father
and I were anxiously looking for you."

Luk
2:49 He said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Didn't you
know that I must be in my Father's house?"

Luk
2:50 They didn't understand the saying which he spoke to them.

Luk
2:51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth. He was
subject to them, and his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

Luk
2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with
God and men.